The Labor enquirer., 1887-04-09
3 l86R

babe, scarce two months old, stin brsalk.
ing. The mother was, e. Il ssemed, tlko<'
oughly dressed, but when the doctor .vkc
had been called opened her basque ~ pr.
ceived that she had worn no undsrgar'
ments, nothing than her dress, stockinau
and piece OF rag as pettisoat. He a..
clared that she had died of weakness ~
Of cold. She had been too poor 70 b1y
herself shift This happened IN Paris,
TO woman of the French nation, who
boasts to be the grandest one on earth I
People spoke Of it, perhaps two or thrss
days, and then-all was forgotten!
~. v.
4 One of the most dangerous cancers Of
modern society is what Fourier called
k Jain lente, continual hunger. This crav-
| ing for food, day for day, week for weed,
lasting whole year, lasting whole life,
is terrible. It originates all sicknesses;
it thins the bloodiit ruins the body, it
kills ambition and every noble thought; it
calls forth all vices and all evils, ss drunk
enness, sloth, yagrancy, harlotry and theft.
This continual hunger is, as I believe,
nowhere more to be met than In Paris;
for aristocracy's display of luxury and
pomp reaches its climax in this city
Though it is not much worse than in Now
York or Washington), and the prodigalities
of the rich and high-born mislead also the
poor workman to extravagances, which his
salary does not permit. and makes him
still more miserable than he is.
The daily food of a workman who eats
well, because his salary allows him to do
so, is in general the following one: the
dinner, bread cents, wine cents, soup
and meat cents, vegetables 3 cents,
cheese 8 cents, total 25 cents. In the
morning he only takes cup of coffee and
q piece of bread, cents; in the evening
he will hardly spend more than Is cents.
Thus he lives with 45 cents per day. II
know he can live with less. There are
many laborers who do not spend more
than 30 cents per day, but what kind of
life is thatP
In short, and without attempting to
give the numbers precise character,
which they cannot have, one can say that
the annual expense for food runs from
S1l0 to $3.50 per head. If some should |
spend little more, tell you, they are by
no means gormandizers.
VI.
Here are some of the wages which the |
city of Paris pays to-day: The stone-
mason earns "a cents per hour, or $40
per day (eight to ten hours works.. the
cabinetmaker, $1.4O to s1.sO; the stone
cutter, the mason, the brickmaker, $1.3O
to $1.7O; the carpenter, $l.40, to So; the
st SsR 8Rsqt 81 sh5 so jbe shsh IL
S1.3O to $1.7O; the painter, $1.eO'to $40;
the glazier, the glider, the looking glass
maker, $1.6O to 50.
VII.
What is the lowest rent which single |
person or family have to pay to live
somewhat decently? The rents vary ma
turally in all parts of Paris, but the aver
age prices are, 1 believe, for one unfur-
nished chamber, $50 to $50 francs; for a
room and kitchen, 200 to 300 francs; for |
two rooms'and kitchen, $50 to $50 francs |
per year. One of my friends who is mar
ried pays 400 francs per year for three
rooms and kitchen. furnished room
one may get for 200 to 400 francs per
year. single person may board for sol
to 100 francs per month.
VIII.
Lately had the opportunity to see the
dwelling of a carman, only one room on
the seventh floor for married couple
with seven children. 1t was early in the
morning, o'clock or so; the father had
left for work, the mother sucked her
youngest child; the Others. were still sleep
ing. One bed was occupied by the oldest
sister and brother, both about IL years
old; on the table lay mattress, which was
the bedstead for three little girls, covered
with few rags and a petticoat. In the
bed of the parents little sick boy was ly-
ing; he had the measles. A wash-stand, an
old trunk, few chairs and stove were,
beside the table and the two BEDS the only
things which furnished this room.
looked into the face of the mother, and
was struck with the expression of helpless
ness and despair which had possessed her
features. Yet she does her duty; she
works day and night and her husband does
the same; he does not smoke; he does not
drink; he works! They bear their cruel
fate like martyrs for the sake of their
children. The character of such man,
of such woman, is grand! They are he
roes. Friends adore them!
TX.
Clothing is perhaps absolutely necessary.
/ have spoken with several workmen and
factory girls and they all told me that
their annual expense for clothing amounts
to 100 or $50 francs, but for this sum they
are well dressed, at least they said so. l,
myself, was surprised by the general
proper and decent appearance of the
Parisian population, also in the poor
quarters of Paris, especially on Sundays
and holidays. On these days the blouse
disappears entirely, and the working
class can hardly be distinguished from